Vacationers from Arkansas play in the Gulf near the Romar Beach public access Thursday, July 1, 2010, in Orange Beach, Ala. A state official said oil has been confirmed to be in the seafloor off Alabama. Press-Register / Mike Kittrell

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. — Alabama Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley says officials have found oil on the seabed just off the state’s coast, confirming fears that the Gulf oil spill could be doing more damage than is readily apparent from the surface. Barnett said Thursday that nets used by the state to determine what’s on the bottom pulled up submerged oil and shrimp as recently as last week. Scientists have said the massive spill off the coast of Louisiana could be contaminating the seafloor as badly or even worse than surface waters, and the discovery by the state indicates those predictions could be correct. Large areas of oxygen-depleted water also have been found. Lawley says the testing will continue to determine the extent of underwater pollution.

Oil spill confirmed to be in seabed off Alabama coast